The district attorney is in the spotlight for advocating for the resentencing of the infamous Menendez brothers.
Key Takeaways
- George Gascón, LA County DA, is advocating for the resentencing of the Menendez brothers, citing their contributions to prison reform and new evidence of abuse.
- Gascón’s advocacy for the Menendez brothers draws attention to his shared Cuban heritage with them.
- Growing up as a Cuban immigrant in a marginalized community in LA shaped his stance on law enforcement and justice.
George Gascón, the current district attorney of Los Angeles County, is making headlines after his recent announcement regarding the Menendez brothers’ case.
The LA DA announced on October 24, 2024, that Lyle and Erik Menendez, who are currently serving life sentences without the possibility of parole for the 1989 m*rders of their parents, should be resentenced and made eligible for parole.
Gascón cited that the Menendez brothers’ participation in forming trauma support groups and advocating for prisoners with disabilities, as well as recently resurfaced evidence supporting their claims of physical and se*ual abuse at the hands of their parents, José and Kitty Menendez, were reasons enough for his recommendation that the brothers be resentenced.
He quoted,
We’re very sure not only that the brothers have rehabilitated and that they will be safe to be reintegrated in our society, but that they have paid their dues, not only for the crimes that they committed, but because of all the other things they have done to improve the life of so many others
www.dailyjournal.com
As the story develops, many are curious to know more about the district attorney, particularly his Cuban heritage, which he shares with the Menendez brothers.
Los Angeles D.A. George Gascón will seek a reduced sentence for Lyle and Erik Menendez, the brothers who murdered their parents, Jose and Kitty, in 1989.
— Variety (@Variety) October 24, 2024
Gascón’s office will ask a Los Angeles judge to lower their sentence from life without the possibility of parole to 50 years… pic.twitter.com/Jk3PYhykAV
George Gascón was born in Cuba on March 12, 1954, and emigrated to the United States in 1967 at the age of 13 after his father lost his job for alleged anti-government activity in 1959.
His family settled in Cudahy, a small working-class city in Los Angeles County that was transitioning to being predominantly Latino when he arrived.
Growing up in Cudahy, Gascón often felt targeted by the police, as he and his friends—many of them Latino—would frequently get stopped for minor offenses.
This experience of being an immigrant in a marginalized community in LA laid the foundation for his later progressive stances on law enforcement and the need for criminal justice reform.
Gascón joined the United States Army at the age of eighteen and became a sergeant. While in the Army, he earned his high school diploma and completed two years toward an undergraduate degree.
After receiving a Bachelor of Arts in History from California State University, Gascón began his career as a patrol officer with the Los Angeles Police Department.
In 2006, Gascón left the LAPD to become Chief of Police in Mesa, Arizona, where he became known for his clashes with Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, particularly over the latter’s aggressive and controversial immigration sweeps.
Gascón publicly condemned racial profiling and worked to protect the Latino community during his tenure in Arizona.
In 2009, he was appointed as the chief of police for the San Francisco Police Department.
Gascón left the police force altogether when he replaced Kamala Harris as the San Francisco district attorney in 2011.
As SF DA, he gained a reputation as a leading voice in the progressive prosecution movement.
He implemented bail reform, led the charge to end cash bail in San Francisco, and initiated programs to expunge prior marijuana convictions in light of California’s Adult Use of Marij*ana Act.
In 2020, Gascón was elected District Attorney of Los Angeles County, where he began a controversial term focused on criminal justice reform.
He immediately announced several significant policy changes, including ending the death penalty, halting the use of sentencing enhancements, and discontinuing cash bail.
These reforms have earned him both praise and criticism, especially from those who feel that his approach may contribute to a rise in certain crimes.
Gascón often advocates for the criminal justice system to focus on community safety and public health rather than punitive measures.
His initiatives, such as the Young Adult Court in San Francisco and the Independent Investigations Bureau, reflect this commitment to using a more rehabilitative approach rather than strict punishment.
Gascón’s journey from a Cuban immigrant navigating the challenges of growing up in Los Angeles to a champion of progressive reform highlights a dedication to creating a justice system that equitably serves all members of society.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- The recent spike in popularity of the Menendez brothers’ case can be attributed to Netflix’s semi-fictionalized docu-series “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story.”
- New evidence in the Menendez brothers’ case includes a letter from Erik Menendez detailing the abuse by his father, as well as testimony from Roy Rosselló, a former member of the boy band Menudo, who alleged he was also molested by José Menendez when he was 14.
